James “Shelton” Baldree, 60, of Tifton died Sunday, March 31, 2013, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Gerald Mallard will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Andy Bruner, Tim Bruner, Edward Horton, Richard Evers, Steven Bruner and Terry Allen Bruner will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Ray Bruner, David Horton and Tony Bruner. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Baldree was born on March 19, 1953 in Tifton and was the son of James Walter Baldree and Margaret Ellen Holder Baldree, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Julie Ann Samples. He was a retired mechanic from Griffin Ford and had also worked for the Tift County Road Department. He was of the Baptist faith and loved hunting and fishing. He loved his family very much and loved his dogs, Buddy and Kate.
Mr. Baldree is survived by his wife, Lydia Mullis Baldree of Tifton, who he married on December 3, 1971; one daughter, Michelle Baldree of Moultrie; three brothers and a sister-in-law, Jackie Baldree and James “Junior” Baldree, both of Tifton and Johnny and Karen Baldree of Omega; and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Angie and Louis Avalos of Omega and Marie and Bill Turner of Tifton.